FLEWINS BORN IN THE 19TH CENTURY WITH KNOWN MILITARY RECORDS

BIRTH
LOCATION

SURNAME

FARNINGHAM, Kent

HENRY WILLIAM

Henry (born William Henry) Flewin joined the Royal Artillery at Woolwich Barracks, Kent, on 17 November 1868 claiming to be aged 18 years 3 months (in fact he was a year younger). He served in the regiment until discharged as a Sergeant on 17 November 1889 in Dublin. He did not serve abroad, but his military records show service after Woolwich in Londonderry, then Dublin. On enlistment he was described as being five feet five and a half inches tall, with a ruddy complexion and light brown hair. He was listed as Church of England and described as a farm labourer. His positions were listed as "Driver," 1868; "Gunner," 1870; "Bombardier," 1874 and "Corporal," 1875. His army record show his marriage in 1873, a period of "temperance" in 1881 and a period in hospital in Londonderry with "Colic" in the year before his discharge. On discharge, future address given as George Street, Somerstown, Chichester, Sussex.

FARNINGHAM, Kent

ALBERT

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NOTES:

Albert (younger brother of Henry, above) shown in 1881 census aged 19 as a in cavalry barracks of the "1st Li...." at Windsor. Records show that the 1st Life Guards arrived at Windsor in July 1880. Albert believed to have been posted with the Life Guards to South Africa where he may have left the army and become ancestor of present South African Flewins. Information still being sought.

HENDON, London

WILLIAM EDWARD

William Edward was a policeman and soldier. He enlisted into a "short service" contract (seven years in the colors and five years in the reserve) in 1889, but much of his "reserve" time was spent in active service as Britain fought the Boer War in South Africa. He joined the 19th Hussars on May 22 1889 when he was just 16. His description on enlistment said his age was "physically equivalent to 18 years two months." He was five feet six and sixth-tenth inches tall, with a fair complexion, light blue eyes and light brown hair. His denomination was "CofE" and his trade was "baker." Under distinctive marks, he was said to have tattoos -- on his right forearm a wreath "In memory of Alice" and an anchor; and on his left forearm a lamp-post, tombstone and a policeman and dog. His army record after the South Africa campaign described him as "very good during mobilisation." When discharged in 1902, William returned to being a policeman and said he would be living in Little Cross, London.

FARNINGHAM, Kent

GEORGE

NOTES:

George signed up for 12 years at Chatham, Kent, on May 15, 1895, giving his year of birth as 1876 (a year too early). He was described as a labourer from Farningham, Kent, was five feet seven and a quarter inches tall, with a fresh complexion, brown hair and grey eyes. His religious denomination was described as "Wesleyan." Among the vessels on which he served were HMS Pembroke and HMS Wildfire. He was granted a "good conduct" medal in 1898. He was invalided out of the Navy from Chatham Hospital in May 1899.

HAMPSTEAD, London

MARTIN

Martin enlisted for war service. At 33 years of age, with a wife and three children, he left his job at London Zoo and joined the army at a London Rifle Depot. He had joined the Zoo five years earlier, but his trade was still described on attestation papers as "baker." On discharge in 1918, his civilian job was described as "Managerie Attendant." Within a few months he was in France where he became a casualty of war suffering from "exposure and infection" at Ypres on the Flanders front. He spent more than three and a half months in hospital and after a long period in which he failed to regain his strength, Rifleman Martin Flewin was discharged as "unfit for service" in February 1918. He was awarded a disability pension which described him as suffering from "Nephritis." His discharge papers say he was "sober, honest and steady."

GANGES, British Columbia

WALTER ROSS

NOTES:

Walter Ross went to Europe in the early stages of the First World War, leaving home in 1915 with the 30th Canadian as part of the Canadian Expeditionary force. He was wounded at Festubert, spending a year in hospital. He returned to France a Lieutenant in the 48th Battalion. Walter Ross was in 1917 appointed in charge of the Intelligence Section of the 1st Canadians and was at Mons for the signing of the armistice. He was awarded the Military Cross for bravery and then stayed in Cologne, Germany, until 1919. In 1918 he married in England.

- Details from notes left by his father, John Flewin (1857-1942) in the Archives of British Columbia.

METLAKAHTTA, British Columbia

CHARLES BERTRAM

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NOTES:

Charles B. left Canada for the Great War in Europe 1915 with the 29th Battalion, but was badly wounded at St. Eloi in France and was invalided home.

- Details from notes left by his father, John Flewin (1857-1942) in the Archives of British Columbia.